Fence post repair support bracket

ABSTRACT

A wooden post repair support bracket meant to repair, reinforce or straighten existing standing or leaning wooden posts. A single-piece steel bracket is formed by cutting plate steel and bending it. The post engaging portion has a flat plate and orthogonal flange which is bolted to two sides of a wooden post bottom. A cement imbedding portion has an arm extending outwardly and downwardly from the flange so that the arm is positioned below ground level and embedded in new cement. Slots or staggered holes in the bracket enable finding solid wood to bolt into. In an alternate version, a flush mount plate with a flange and embedding arm extending orthogonally away from the post is mounted through a rail and into the post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to post supports and, more particularly, pertains to a fence post repair support bracket meant to repair and reinforce existing standing posts and to straighten leaning posts by using a steel bracket, cut from plate steel and bent, to form a fence post support which may be embedded in new cement.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Wooden posts for fences, signs, and other uses are normally subject to rotting and weakening at the bottom of the post where the post rests on, or is imbedded in, cement or the ground. This is due to the prolonged exposure to moisture at ground level where water content is greater than that found higher up on the posts. The posts will tend to lean at first, often held up by the rest of the fence structure, and then, sometimes fall over. While the remainder of the post is structurally sound, the foundation, or bottom, of the post becomes unstable and structurally unsound.

[0005] Repairing wooden fence posts to create a new foundation and structurally reinforce the existing post is far less expensive and easier to do than replacing the entire post. There have been other attempts to solve the problem of repairing and supporting wooden posts, but none provide a truly effective, inexpensive way to do so.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,449, issued May 15, 2001 to Colvin, provides a support attachment for fixing posts with an angle member bolted to a post with two bolts and pivotal arms extending from one of the bolts on both sides of the post. The pivotal arms support a cross member embedded in fresh cement adjacent to the old.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,482, issued Jun. 10, 1997 to Klager, shows a wood fence post repair device and method wherein the old post is sawed off where it meets the cement and then moved slightly to one side. The old bottom of the post is removed from the cement leaving a square hole in the cement. A long angle iron is inserted in the hole in the cement and the post bolted to the top of the angle iron after the post is trimmed to accommodate the thickness of the angle iron. The hole in the cement may then be filled with fresh cement.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 1,038,147, issued Sep. 10, 1912 to Johnson, claims a detachable fence-post point that may be used for repairing fence posts. An elongated top strip bolts to the post and has an offset downwardly projecting point which is inserted in the ground spaced away from the bottom of the post.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,817, issued Apr. 20, 1993 to Klumpjan, describes a fence post bracket that is cut from a flat strip of metal, then folded into an elongated support U-shaped in cross-section. A rotted fence post bottom is cut off and the bracket bolted to the fence post, which is elevated

[0010] Klager, Johnson, and Klumpjan all require providing a hole or fresh cement directly below the fence post, requiring removal of the bottom of the existing fence post from the old cement or, removing the old cement entirely. Colvin provides a hinged extension which is implantable in fresh cement adjacent to the existing cement, but it is an elaborate structure, costly to fabricate and, prone to loosening and rusting out at the joints.

[0011] What is needed is a sturdy, long-lasting, inexpensive means for repairing and supporting wooden posts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece, wooden-post repair support which has an extended foot, for anchoring the support in newly poured concrete, and an angled plate which connects to the post.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a fence post repair and support bracket fabricated by cutting a sheet of thick steel into the desired pattern and then, bending the pattern to form the bracket for an inexpensive, very sturdy, long lasting one-piece bracket.

[0014] One more object of the present invention is to provide a fence post repair and support bracket having a plate or angled plates engaging the bottom of an existing wooden post, the plates having spaced holes or slots to ensure finding a solid location in the existing post into which a screw or bolt may be secured.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide a fence post repair and support bracket with an angled extension arm which is able to be implanted in fresh cement adjacent to existing cement which will facilitate a more simple repair routine.

[0016] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a fence post repair and support bracket with an angled extension fabricated in such a way that an array of sizes can be made to fit many sizes of fence posts.

[0017] A corollary object of the present invention is that two different shapes and configurations of bolt holes are used in the brackets to be adaptable to the user's repair needs.

[0018] An ancillary object of the present invention is to provide two basic styles of fence post repair and support bracket with an angled extension to accommodate the way in which the rotted fence post will need to be addressed for repair; one bracket is meant to be at a 90 degree angle and flush to a rail on the post, the other to be attached to the rotting post several inches above the ground.

[0019] A contributory object of the present invention is that the extended arm of the bracket has an end extension flange which extends away from the arm capable of hooking under a portion of new cement, located away from the imbedding arm so that, if the arm material separates from the new cement, the extension flange will restrain the arm from motion relative to the cement.

[0020] A related object the present invention is that the end extension flange also acts as a hanging apparatus which will allow the bracket to hang dry after being weather proofed in a manufacturing setting.

[0021] An associated object of the present invention is to weather proof the metal used in making the brackets, in a process such as powder coating, to lengthen the lifespan of the materials used against the elements.

[0022] In brief, a thick steel plate is cut and bent to form a fence post repair support bracket with two orthogonal faces which will engage two adjacent sides of a bottom of a damaged wooden fence post. The bracket bolts to the post on two sides through staggered holes or slots to ensure engagement of a solid portion of the post. In an alternate embodiment, a single plate sits flush against a bottom rail and is bolted to the post through that additional rail.

[0023] In both embodiments, an arm extends away from the post and downward to be embedded in fresh cement which will be placed in a hole adjacent to the old cement under the post. A hook, which curves out and away from the end of the arm, is meant to engage the new cement and also, to be used as a hanging means for the bracket during weather treatment.

[0024] An advantage of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, easy to use, and sturdy one-piece, wooden-post repair support.

[0025] Another advantage of the present invention is that it has an extended foot, for anchoring the support in newly poured concrete.

[0026] An additional advantage of the present invention is to provide an angled plate which connects to the rotting post.

[0027] One more advantage of the present invention is to provide bracket plates that have spaced holes or slots which ensure finding a solid location in the existing post into which a screw or bolt may be secured.

[0028] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the bracket is fabricated in such a way that an array of sizes can be made to fit many sizes of fence posts.

[0029] A further advantage of the present invention is that two different shapes and configurations of bolt holes are used in the brackets to be adaptable to the user's repair needs.

[0030] Still another advantage of the present invention is that the brackets are fabricated to be inexpensive, very sturdy, and long lasting.

[0031] A subsequent advantage of the present invention is to weather proof the metal used in making the brackets to lengthen the lifespan of the materials used.

[0032] An added advantage of the present invention is that the bracket is made in two basic styles to accommodate the way in which the rotted fence post will need to be addressed for repair.

[0033] An extra advantage of the present invention is that the extended arm of the bracket has a hook end which serves two purposes: support of the bracket during weather proofing and, to resist movement in the cement imbedding process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] These and other details of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

[0035]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with an orthogonal mount which directly attaches to a wooden post on two sides of the post;

[0036]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention which attaches by a flush mount to a wooden post through a rail which is attached to the wooden post.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0037] In FIGS. 1-2, a one-piece post support bracket 20 for repairing and supporting existing wooden posts 40, 40A is formed by cutting and bending a sheet of metal into a post engaging portion 22, 22A, and 24 and a cement imbedding portion 26, 28. The post engaging portion 22, 22A, and 24 is comprised of at least one flat plate 22, 22A and 24 which has at least one bolt opening 21, 25, 29 therethrough. The post engaging portion 22, 22A, and 24 is capable of engaging a bottom portion of an existing wooden post 40, 40A with at least one bolt opening 21, 25, 29 positioned away from the bottom of the existing wooden post 40, 40A in a solid portion of that post 40, 40A. The cement imbedding portion 26, 28 has at least one arm 26 extending outwardly and downwardly from the post engaging portion 22, 22A, and 24 so that the cement imbedding portion 26, 28 is positioned below ground level and away from the wooden post 40, 40A. With the post engaging portion 22, 22A, and 24 in contact with the bottom of the wooden post 40, 40A, the cement imbedding portion 26, 28 is capable of being anchored into new cement 60 poured into a hole adjacent to the wooden post 40, 40A.

[0038] In FIGS. 1-2, the cement imbedding arm 26 is further comprised of an end extension flange 28 which extends away from the arm 26. The end extension flange 28 is capable of hooking under a portion of cement 60 located away from the imbedding arm 26 so that, if the arm material 26 separates from the cement 60 in time, the extension flange 28 will restrain the arm from motion relative to the cement 60.

[0039] In addition, the extension flange 28 further comprises a hook end capable of supporting the post bracket 20 in a hanging position for treating all surfaces of the post bracket 20 during fabrication with a corrosion resistant coating.

[0040] In FIG. 1, the bolt opening is comprised of at least one slot 21 and, preferably two slots 21 extending horizontally across most of the width of the post, the slots 21 being spaced apart vertically, to enable a range of placements of one or more bolts 23 through the slot 21 to ensure finding a solid portion of the post in which to engage the bolts 23.

[0041] In FIG. 2, the bolt opening is comprised of at least two bolt holes 29, preferably three, positioned above the bottom of the plate and spaced apart at an inclined angle relative to the post 40A, in order that a secure connection can be made between a bolt 23A with a non-rotted portion of the post 40A.

[0042] In FIG. 1, the post engaging portion 24 is comprised of a flat plate 22 equal in width to the width of the wooden post 40 and is capable of engaging the wooden post 40 and a flange 24 orthogonal to the flat plate 22, forming two flat orthogonal plates, in which the flange 24 extends around the wooden post 40 to engage an orthogonal side of the wooden post 40. The arm 26 is an extension of the flange 24 and extends away from the wooden post 40 in a plane parallel to the flange 24. The two flat plates 22 and 24 have at least one slot opening 21 or bolt opening 25 in each of the two flat plates 22 and 24. At least one of the flat plates 22 is equal in width to the width of the wooden post 40. That flat plate 22 has two horizontal slots 21 for receiving bolts 23, to be positioned anywhere along the slots, where there is a solid surface in the damaged post to receive the bolts 23.

[0043] In FIG. 2, the post engaging portion is comprised of a single flat plate 22A, equal in width to the width of the wooden post 40A and is capable of engaging the wooden post 40A through a ground rail 70, and a flange 24A orthogonal to the flat plate 22A in which the flange 24A extends away from the wooden post 40A. The arm 26, with an end hook 28, is an extension of the flange 24A.

[0044] The one piece post support bracket is preferably formed of thick steel sheeting by cutting, bending and weather coating the bracket.

[0045] It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A one-piece post support for repairing and supporting existing wooden posts, the bracket comprising: a bracket formed by cutting and bending a sheet of metal into a post engaging portion and a cement imbedding portion, the post engaging portion having at least one flat plate having at least one bolt opening therethrough, the post engaging portion capable of engaging a bottom portion of an existing wooden post and the at least one bolt opening positioned away from a bottom of the existing wooden post in a solid portion of the wooden post, and the cement imbedding portion having at least one arm extending outwardly and downwardly of the post engaging portion so that the cement imbedding portion is positioned below ground level away from the wooden post with the post engaging portion in contact with the bottom of the wooden post, the cement imbedding portion capable of being imbedded in cement poured into a hole adjacent to the wooden post.
 2. The post support of claim 1 wherein the cement imbedding arm further comprises an end extension flange extending away from the arm, the end extension flange capable of hooking under a portion of cement away from the arm so that if the arm material separates from the cement, the extension flange will restrain the arm from motion relative to the cement.
 3. The post support of claim 2 wherein the extension flange further comprises a hook end capable of supporting the post support in a hanging position for treating all surfaces of the post support during fabrication with a corrosion resistant coating.
 4. The post support of claim 1 wherein the bolt opening comprises a slot to enable a range of placements of one or more bolts through the slot.
 5. The post support of claim 1 wherein the bolt opening comprises at least two bolt holes positioned above the bottom of the plate and spaced apart at an inclined angle relative to the post.
 6. The post support of claim 1 wherein the post engaging portion comprises two flat plates interconnected orthogonally with at least one bolt opening in each of the two flat plates, at least one of the flat plates being equal in width to the width of the wooden post.
 7. The post support of claim 1 wherein the post engaging portion comprises a flat plate equal in width to the width of the wooden post and capable of engaging the wooden post and a flange orthogonal to the flat plate which flange extends away from the wooden post and the arm is an extension of the flange.
 8. The post support of claim 1 wherein the post engaging portion comprises a flat plate equal in width to the width of the wooden post and capable of engaging the wooden post and a flange orthogonal to the flat plate which flange extends around the wooden post to engage an orthogonal side of the wooden post and the arm is an extension of the flange extending away from the wooden post in a plane parallel to the flange. 